Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-18
COPY OF CONTRACT.
THE AeRBYMYNr BEfwYEH MR. DI-
PRIIsr AND NYIRs 4 SON.
Points About the Pizsini Investigates
and the Appointment Of Keeper
Of Reservoir Park.

Mr.. Clinton Depriest, his appoint
msnt as keeper of the New-Reservoir
Park, his recent association with the
new City-Hall work and its plans, his
contract with the architects drawn by
The Mayor, and his career generally,
have been the subject Of much talk in
the two days past. Mr.. Depriest has
long been q Republican. During the
war he was in the Confederate
amy, serving with distinction and
winning promotion for gallantry.
Soon after the war closed he was
appointed membero of the police force,
where he served for seventeen years.
Subsequently he was in the post-otfice
under DR.. Cline. lately he was in
in securing the adoption of
tie Myers plans for the rew City Hall,
and during the past few weeks he has
figured in the investigation OF the
stone-cutting o. the City Hall, in which
tie fact was developed that Mayor Car
rineton had drawn the contract entered
into between bim and Architect Myers.
COLONEL CARRINdToN.
The Colonel was seen yesterday by a
Dispotca reporter and asked about his
transaction with Mr.. Depriest. He
answered: "Mr. Depriest called at
my Office and said lie wished me to
draw up q contract between himself
and the firm of Myers d Son, archi-
tects. l asked him the nature OF the
contract, which he explained, and said
lie was to receive 81, 800 for acting
as their agent in securing the adop-
ton of their plans of the new
City Hall, and nothing unless their
plans were adopted. told him
distinctly that 1 would draw the
contract as lawyer, so that it would
be valid and binding on Myers & Son,
but | wanted him to understand that,
as Mayor, / might knock the whole
contract in the head by vetoing the
plans if the matter came before me ;
in other words, that he must not con-
slider his action as counsel as opposed
to the plans or the adoption OF them If
the matter came before me"
AT THE NEW RESERVOIR.
The Mayor was asked if no had a
COPY of the contract. He said no. Mr..
Depriest was then sought, and finally
found attending to his official duties in
the New Reservoir Park. When asked
for his contract with the architects
for publication, Mr.. Depriest ap-
peared surprised, and inquired why
the reporter wanted to publish it. He
was told that So had been offered by
one of tfe city dailies for the manu-
script of it, and that a great many peo-
pie thought it contained more than an
ordiuary agreement. Mr.. Deprlest
seemed to doubt the propriety of giving
the paper out, but finally agreed to do
it, and produced the following in Colo
mel Carrington's handwriting, from
which the contract was written cer6a-
tim.
THE CONTRACT.
This contract, made this - day Of
July, 1886, between j.. f. Myers
architect, Of the city of Detroit, Stats
of Michigan, and Clinton Depriest, OF
the city of Richmond, State OF Vir'
ginia, is to show:
That whereas said Z. E. Myers has
heretofore submitted plans for the
erection of the new City Hall in sale
city Of Ricf mond, which plans have
for reasons unnecessary to refer t'
here, been rejected by said city anC
whereas said L. Il. Myers desires t.
have the plans readopted, and to tina
end desires to employ an agent and re
preventative: now, therefore, he here
by employs said Clinton Depriest il
that capacity, and if said plans are &C
cepted and adopted he agrees to pay
the said Depriest $500 out of tn,
first money paid him by said city; thii
agreement to be regarded as an assign
ment of his claim il his plans are &C
cepted to the extent named, and tht
City Auditor will on presentation o
this contract issue his warrant to sait
Clinton Depriest for said 81, 800, whicl
shall be in full of all scry ices by him
And said Depriest agrees to make NJ
charge for any services rendered unles
said plans are adopt, d, and is TO put Z
L. Myers TO no cost in his efforts t
have the plans adopted.
HIS APPOINTMENT.
In speaking about his appointment
Mr.. Depnest said it had nothing what
ever 10 do with the recent investigation
of the stone-cr,ting, as some people
supposed. Weeks before he was elect
ed the Grounds and Buildings Com
mittee lad asked for an appropriation
of $4,000 on account of the New Reser
yoir Park ; that only $1,000 was Sc
cured, and out of this sum was to b'
paid tie salary for the balance of tn
fiscal year of a Keeper Of the New Re
eeryoir Park to be elected.
THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
81 took quite a prominent part il
the late Reform movement" Mr.. DE
priest continued, 'and / believe coult
have gotten po, 'tion from any othe
Council committee as well as tn
Grounds and Buildings Committee
especially one in which the Reform
element predominated, so it is unjus
to cast any reflection on the committe
that appointed me-"
RECOSIMENDA TONS.
Mr.. Depriest's name, when proposes
for appointment, was accompanied b.
good endorsement. In addition to
letter from Mayor Darlington stating
how and why Mr.. Depriest was re
moved from the police force was not
from Major Poe, Chief Of Police, il
which that official referred to Mr.. De
priests activity, steadiness, and intelli
gence, and his long acquaintance wit
him.
A communication was also produce'
from Or. Gilmer, ex-postmaster, VIII
spoke in high terms Of Mr.. Depriest'
efficiency.
WHY DISCHARGED FROM POLICE FORCE
1.-The records of the Police Commis
sioners will show" said Mr.. Depriest
when asked why he was dismissed fron
the police force, "that | was discharges
for entering Heuser's restaurant to &c
something to eat /; that | was in citizen
clothes and on furlough and that
month afterwards another policema
when found asleep on his beat was onl
fined and restored to duty. OF course
= I..nharoro r-ns a nolitinal nnoua an